Bud was born on June 13, 1931, to Thomas Franklin Hacker and Eva Pearl Parkson. He grew up in "the big rock house" north of Everett and west of Archie. He attended grade school at Steen Rural #84 school and then Archie High School, where he participated in basketball and graduated with the Class of 1949.
In July of 1950, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and took his basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, after which he was sent to Camp Gordon, Georgia, to study to be a topography technician. In February 1951, he was sent to Seoul, Korea, where he served at the 8th Army Headquarters as a code-breaker, aiding in peace talks in Pan Moon Jon where he received messages from the peace talks and sent out those messages in code. Later, he joined the 23rd Infantry. He returned to the United States in July 1952. On August 16, 1952, he married the love of his life, Alice “Maxine” Burchett. In September 1952, they went to Camp Polk, Leesville, Louisiana, to serve the remaining years of Bud’s enlistment.
They returned to Missouri in 1953 and settled on a farm in the Rocky Point area between Archie and Drexel. He went to work in the city as a machinist, but his first love was the country. In January 1958, Bud went to work at Allied Signal/Bendix, where he was made a machinist supervisor and worked there until his retirement on April 1, 1988. He then opened his own shop, The Amarugia Machine Shop, at home. It wasn’t unusual for him to put in 60 hours a week when he was really busy. He was a meticulous machinist – perfection was his trademark. Many farmers who needed a part fixed during planting or harvest season would discover there was no charge for his work. He was just happy to help.
He had a strong work ethic and expected the same from those around him. However, he did find time for fun. He enjoyed going to the casinos and buying lottery tickets weekly. On his last scratcher he won $500! He enjoyed fishing – and feeding the fish, hunting – taking several trips to Colorado to hunt elk, gardening and playing Pitch – only the brave would be his card partner as he would often “shoot the moon”. Bud anxiously awaited the return of the purple martins each spring, hanging gourds and bird houses for their arrival.
Bud lived the motto of “Faith, Family, and Friends”. Even though his body failed him, his memory was intact. He mentioned once that he had 40 people on his prayer list and he prayed for them daily. When he could no longer see, he listened to the Bible on tape, often fast forwarding through the genealogies. Occasionally, he would question something he had heard, never believing he knew all there was to know. He could tell you play-by-play of the latest Royals game, batting averages, and ERAs. He also cheered against the Royals just to aggravate Maxine. He was a quiet man, but when he spoke you knew you should listen as he’d often share wisdom or advice. He believed a hand shake and a man’s word were better than a contract. He loved his country and flew an American flag faithfully. We have had many proud moments when someone says: “I knew your father, he was a good man.”
Bud was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; his sister, Wila Maxine; and his brother, Joe R. Hackler. The legacy Bud leaves behind is strong. He is survived by his daughters: Marsha Lynn Stark and Shelley Leann Jacobs (Ronnie), all of Drexel, MO; their families: Ryan and Andrea Stark and their son, Logan; Aaron and Haley Stark; Jared and Alycia Jacobs and their children, Easton and Adilynn; Allison and Daniel Roberts; his son, Thomas Eugene Hackler of Pleasant Hill, MO; his children: Amy, Tom (Kyla), Megan (Justin), Jennifer (Derek), Ashley; and his grandchildren: Shane, Shelby, John, Abby, Erick, Brooke, Tom, Korbin, Tayton, Jayanna, Cabriah, Coba, and Christopher; his sister, Norma June Hess, of Adrian, MO; and sister-in-law, Barbara Hackler, of Archie, MO.
Thank you to Vintage Park in Louisburg, KS, and Adrian Baptist Homes for their care, compassion, and patience.
